FIST: A Framework for Flexible and Low-Cost Wireless Testbed for Sensor Networks

Executive Summary

Setting up a wireless sensor network for an experiment is both time and effort intensive. Sometimes, the time required to set up the experimental framework is even more than that of the experiment itself. Many existing fixed testbeds manage nodes using gateways and require a lot of support and maintenance. Changing the deployment place - especially if it is a crowded area - is difficult. The authors propose a framework for implementing a Flexible and low-cost wIreless for Sensor network Testbed (FIST). Downloading the experimental code, reprogramming, testbed control, logging and collecting experimental results and synchronization are all carried out by the sensor motes wirelessly.